5 Top Yoga Poses to Build Strength

A weak body can neither get any work done nor has a strong immune system. Eating healthy only solve the problem partially. A regular yoga practice can go a long way in making the body strong and flexible.

Boat Pose

You need a strong core to do the Boat pose and the asana strengthens your core further. Sit on the ground by putting the hands on both the sides of your buttocks. Now sit on the buttock by leaning towards the back and stretch your legs out in the front. Lift your legs up at an angle of 45 degrees to the ground. Keep your spine straight and the lower abdomen flat. Raise your hands up to the knee such that they are parallel to the ground.

The Boat pose tightens and strengthens the core muscles of the abdomen and back as well as hip flexors. It also improves prostate, kidneys, thyroid, and intestine health.

Goddess Pose

The Goddess Pose enhances both strength and stamina. It allows the muscles to be stretched and toned.

Stand in mountain pose, and focus on your breathing. Keep your feet apart and sideways. Bend your knees and lower your hips up to the height of your knees. Keep your arms at shoulder height in the namaskar mudra such that your fingertips are pointing upwards. Maintain this position for 30 seconds. Repeat.

Bridge Pose

This yoga pose stretches the neck, chest, spine, and hips. It boosts blood circulation by strengthening back, buttocks, and hamstrings. The bridge pose reduces stress and depression, and improves lungs, thyroid and abdominal organs’ health. Lie down and bend the knees. Then try raising your buttocks so that your thighs are parallel to the ground. Your body now makes a bridge-like pose. Maintain this pose for 30 seconds or more.

Triangle Pose

The Triangle Pose enhances strength and flexibility by working the legs, hips, muscles around the knee, ankle joints, hamstrings, calves, chest, shoulders, and spine.

Stand straight with your legs apart in a triangular shape. Bend on the right side and try to touch the right foot with right hand while keeping the other one raised upwards. Repeat on the other side.

Plough Pose

The Plough pose stretches the muscles in your lower back and neck. It also facilitates the release of stress and tension.

Lie down facing to the sky. Stretch your arms wide on your sides. Slowly lift your legs overhead and then place them on the back of your head. Lift your back so that your feet can move farther away from your head. Your hands and the stretched shoulder blades will support your upper back.

To learn more about private yoga training and group fitness classes, get in touch with the leading stress coach in San Francisco, California, The Big Yogi, Nick Palladino, at nick@thebigyogi.com or call 707-293-5415. Nick inspires, teaches and leads others towards their own light and life purpose.